Snow and Weather Report

Daily snowfall is reported as measured from our official snow stake, which sits on a flat surface to collect snow and measures by inches. The height of snow can be read directly from this stake 24 hours a day, but we officially measure and report snow for a 24-hour period, from 5 AM to 5 AM. Each morning after 5 AM, the snow stake is cleared. Therefore height of snow on the board at any given time reflects what snow has fallen after 5 AM.

In addition to the 24-hour snowfall measurements, we also record the settled base depth each morning at 5 AM. This figure is read from a permanent snow stake that measures the height of settled snow above the ground. Reading this snow stake is a bit more complicated due to fact that a settlement cone typically forms around it due to heat from the stake itself causing the snow directly around it to melt or settle faster than it would in a regular field of snow. Base depths are therefore read as the level of snow outside the influence of the settlement cone, or about 2 feet from the stake, and our patrol team averages the height of snow in front of and behind the snow stake to maintain consistent measurements.

At Breck, we are committed to reporting snow accurately and transparently, based on industry standards. Guests can always view our official snow stake 24 hours a day on our website, which is what we use to report daily snowfall totals throughout the season. Although measuring and reporting snow is a simple and straightforward process, it's important to remember that the snow stake is just one location and one data point. For reporting standards and consistency, it is important that we measure snow from a single location every day, all season long. However, with nearly 3,000 acres of terrain spanning across Five Peaks and ranging from a base elevation of 9,600 feet to nearly 13,000 feet above sea-level, Breckenridge Ski Resort is spread across miles of terrain and therefore snowfall totals can vary greatly across the mountain based on wind, weather, geography and topography. On any given powder day, it is not unusual to find snow much deeper than what was reported in some areas of the mountain, or shallower than we reported, based on all of these factors.

Our official resort snow stake is located on Peak 8 near the bottom of 6-Chair. At 11,237 feet, this site is almost exactly at the middle elevation of the resort and in the middle of our Five Peaks. Most resorts report from within the upper third of the their mountain's elevation. The snow stake you see on our web cam is located at this site, and this is the single location where we record daily snowfall data that is reported publicly and used by patrol to inform their work on the mountain. We have been recording snow at this location for more than 20 years.

In addition to the 24-hour snow stake, we also have a base depth snow stake that records the amount of snow on the ground at this site. Base depth snow reports are different than the total snow reported each day, as base depth measures and takes into account snow settlement, melting, and sublimation.

A small team of specially-trained ski patrollers read the official 24-hour snow stake and our base depth snow stake, just before 5 AM every day. Therefore, the official 24-hour snow report is the amount of snow which fell between 5 AM one morning to 5 AM the next day.

Snow is reported daily by 5 AM.

The amount of snow at the stake is recorded into our database which is then automatically delivered to the websites, email system, text message system, and third party websites like OpenSnow.com and OnTheSnow.com.

In order to get the most accurate and consistent snow reports, it is important that our snow stake is located in an area that is mostly protected from external factors. Therefore, our snow stake is located in a flat area that is out of the direct sun and protected from the wind to avoid drifting and scour.

Industry standards for snow reporting at ski areas require that official snow reports be made at or below the upper third of the resort's elevation. Our stake is situated well below this standard at 11,237 feet which is almost exactly at the middle elevation of our skiable terrain.

We work with the CoCoRaHS measurement system to ensure our snow stake is built properly and in the right place.

Following industry standards, we report a base of 18" when the majority of skiable terrain is on manmade (snowmaking) snow. It is assumed that at least 18" of artificial snow is present on these trails even when the natural snow base is less than 18".

Even in early season, ski patrol still records natural settled base for our records, but when most of the open terrain is on manmade snow, we report 18" since that is what our customers will be skiing on.